Peace Over Anxiety

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.?????

?Philippians 4:6-7

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This sermon comes straight from my heart, reflecting the personal events unfolding in my life. Life often presents us with problems that we believe we can solve, when in reality those very problems hold the key to healing our own anxieties and fears.

This is when understanding Philippians 4:6-7 comes into play. I have shared publicly about the loss of my cousin/sister to Stage Four Colon Cancer but not about my anxiety.? The only thought I had about Tanya’s journey was that she was going to beat this because she was a good person who taught our family about living with kindness and peace.? She was notoriously amazing.? No one dare bring gossip or discord to her because she set you straight.? This was her reputation, especially at work. I also thought she was going to beat it because I am a public servant and have given what some say is beyond normal human abilities selflessly from the age of twelve.? I thought surely, it is my time to receive from that well.? But Tanya didn’t make it.? When she knew she was passing she gave me a wish list over 50 pages.? This wish list was everything in life that I sacrificed for myself in order to serve others. ?The final wish was to go sailing and play Christopher Cross “Sailing.” Can you imagine the heart power I put into this trip?? ?An impossible fete but I had to do it for Tanya.? In her final space of LOVE Tanya was thinking about me and how much I owed it to myself to have some of my desires in life.? With every disappointment, I always said “it’s okay next time or I understand.”? But she knew it hurt my soul. ?So, she asked to sail on a beautiful ocean.? (Sailing, being on the water is my favorite thing) … It was the perfect story line for my cousin/sister to say farewell and travel on (you got this). She passed away two days into the experience.

The anxiety of ‘I can’t do this anymore consumed my life.’? While thousands of people have witnessed me taking the stage, helping families and getting it done; no one see’s the anxiety of ‘I just need to make it through the day.’? During this time of the year there’s a popular post with several influential people who are no longer with us and it talks about mental illness with their faces etc. to the language of suffering in silence.? I beg to differ because anxiety is loud and busy – I think some of the kindest and most productive people are trying to work through anxiety and if they can be busy, they can outlive, out do or out run anxiety.?

After Tanya’s funeral my husband was diagnosed with cancer and other ailments.? The response was “he’s going to get through this because he has a great and caring wife.” Too heavy while grieving my Tanya, but I tried to measure up to what others were saying about me.? Another layer of anxiety was not being present at events/outings so I would not have impossible expectations placed on me.? Then the great flood and the hurricane added greater loss, I did not have the strength to fight and deal with any of it. However, people in need called and texted for help and resources every day. ?The anxiety to produce was overwhelming. ?Adulting as they say was the least of my concerns.? Shortly after my father, who in the past few years came back into my life, had been absent from my life. He was diagnosed with bone cancer (love screamed help him and be there for him).? I was until the very end.?

One month after laying him to a soldier’s rest, an angel named Melissa Moreno brought Seven Kids in Seven Days benefiting the Jessica June Children's Cancer Foundation, Inc. to our Women Empowering Women In Development organization.? Never did I imagine that my three-year journey filled with anxiety was about to find the healing that I need.? (sigh) Take Me to the King!!!!

From reading the first sentence about JJCCF to the final period on the website I felt a pull on my heart to help and galvanize others to help. ?While cancer is the illness – anxiety is the destroyer.? If people understood the anxiety for the families in managing this disease, is they would respond.? Praise God for research and clinical trials and treatment – praise God in huge ways – the cost of care to keep a loved one alive is GREAT.? Families face foreclosure, eviction, car repossession, no food, no recreation, etc.? A level of anxiety somehow overlooked.? As one living out this anxiety, I pledged to find holistic support for the entire family.? In doing this I was reminded of “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 | While helping these families take their anxiety and burdens to the Father; the Lord precious Hand is lifting my soul.? For the first time in three-years I am not anxious, and it came through the miracle of a child.? A Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation Child(ren).?

May I appeal to those facing anxiety & insurmountable situations open your heart to these families and connect with others. In our case we reached out to Bill Feinberg who like us is on a healing journey (together we are facing our anxieties). You would be surprised how your compassion and holistic support will bring peace in your life too.? On Dec 7th 2024 I opened my first piece of mail something I had not done since the day Tanya took her final breath. Who knew that I in this process would receive my Christmas miracle.

Peace be Unto You!

Elder Hastings